Customs and Trade News Snapshot |

Here is a recap of the latest customs and international trade news:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

DHS announces two additional PRC-based companies as a result of forced labor enforcement. Effective August 2, 2023, goods produced by Camel Group Co., Ltd. and Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary Chenguang Biotechnology Group Yanqi Co. Ltd. will be added to the UFLPA Entity List and restricted from entering the United States as a result of the companies’ participation in business practices that target members of persecuted groups, including Uyghur minorities in the PRC.
CBP’s final rule for new Broker Continuing Education (CE) requirement became effective July 24. The agency published answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding CE credit reporting, how CE credits will be treated during the 2024-2027 triennial, and accreditors. Read CBP’s fact sheet here.
CBP detained forced labor merchandise may no longer enter a zone whilst awaiting decisions. The only available options are to pay storage at the port or a customs bonded warehouse.
Luxury jewelry, handbags, watches & more worth almost $800K intercepted by CBP officers at Chicago’s international mail facility.
CBP, the Office of Field Operations (OFO), the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), and the Trade Compliance (TC) program announced the next generation of the CTPAT Portal and the TC Portal.
- The next generation of these Portals will move from their current, outdated architecture to a modern cloud-based system that will be more user-friendly, intuitive, and faster.
COBRA Fees Adjusted for Inflation in FY2024 – CBP published a Federal Register notice outlining adjustments to certain customs user fees and corresponding limitations established by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) for Fiscal Year 2024.
CBP is working with the Trade Support Network (TSN) Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to hold a technical forum in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET with ACE software developers and self-programmers.
- CBP said it is hosting this information-sharing session “to exchange technical ideas with ACE software developers and self-programmers that could help improve ACE short-term, as well as inform future CBP technical initiatives.” Register by Aug. 25 here.
CBP officers in Louisville intercept 130 designer watches worth $4.24 Million
Baltimore CBP officers seize $314K in counterfeit Converse-like sneakers
EAPA Action: Notice of Determination as to Evasion in EAPA Case 7730 – Steel Grating

United States Trade Representative (USTR)

Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force publishes updated Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act strategy
- The updated UFLPA Strategy highlights enforcement of the UFLPA’s rebuttable presumption and highlights an expanded UFLPA Entity List, which as of August 2, 2023 will include four new companies.

Department of Commerce

Oil country tubular goods from Ukraine: Preliminary results of antidumping duty administrative review; 2021-2022
Notice of scope ruling applications filed in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings
Passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the Republic of Korea: Preliminary results of antidumping duty administrative review; 2021-2022
Large power transformers from the Republic of Korea: Rescission of antidumping duty administrative review; 2021-2022

Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)

FMC Commissioner proposes reforms to international ocean supply chain practices
- Commissioner Rebecca F. Dye is proposing to reform three practices of ocean carriers and marine terminal operators at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the Port of New York and New Jersey that relate to container returns, earliest return date, and container pickup (notice of availability).

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA announces FY2024 user fee rates under the Food Safety Modernization Act for the Voluntary Qualified Importer Program and the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

OFAC launches “Introduction to OFAC” video series. This first episode introduces viewers to OFAC, its place within the U.S. government, history, mission, and relationship with the public. Watch here.
Counter terrorism designations and designation update; Balkans-related designations
Venezuela-related designations removals; Global Magnitsky designation update

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

GAO releases findings on Section 232 tariff exclusions
- GAO was asked to review how Section 232 exclusions are administered. This report examines (1) BIS’s measures to ensure Section 232 exclusion requests are needed, (2) the extent to which BIS and CBP maintain consistent data to administer the exclusions, and (3) the extent to which importers invalidly used exclusions. GAO defines invalid use as the claiming of an exclusion in ACE in a way that does not comport with BIS’s parameters.
- GAO analyzed agency data, and reviewed agency documents related to the exclusion approval and import processes. GAO also interviewed BIS and CBP officials and spoke with industry stakeholders. Read the full report here.

Industry

Mexico surpasses China as the top trading partner. The milestone reflects a real shift in the dynamics of the global economy — away from prioritizing low prices and greater efficiency (via super fragile supply chains) to something more nuanced.
Mexican industrial park owners face energy cost issues among booming business.
Less-than-truckload carrier Yellow Corp. ceases all operations
- The company had been in operation for nearly 100 years, but its financial challenges snowballed, leading it to accumulate more than $1 billion in debt. The announcement leaves the company’s 30,000 employees out of work.
- The company’s sudden shutdown has caused significant disruption to their existing customers, particularly small and medium sized entities. SMEs are also likely to face higher prices as they seek new trucking contracts.
Litigation seeking to overturn Section 301 tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of imports from China moved forward when importers filed their first brief with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Upcoming event: On Aug. 15, the Atlanta International Forwarders and Brokers Association (AIFBA) will host the TSA Export Compliance Forum at The Morrow Center in Morrow, Georgia, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Speakers include a half-dozen TSA officials, as well as officials from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Register here.